NCP gropes in dark for city chief

Months-long waitThe hunt for a new city president commenced after the current city president, Vandana Chavan, was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Though the selection process has been on for the last few months, the party high command seems to be finding it difficult to in on a suitable candidate for the post.

Sources said that Chavan, whose name is doing rounds among party circles, said she doesn’t want to become the city president again and wants to concentrate more on her role as an MP.

“Being an MP I have big responsibilities and cannot do justice to the city president’s post. Therefore, I think, I should leave the post for other eligible candidate,” Chavan said.

The probables The insider also said that names of former mayors Mohansingh Rajpal and Rajlaxmi Bhosale were also being considered. Both Rajpal and Bhosale lost the February municipal election.

The source also said that party spokesperson Ankush Kakade and former standing committee chairperson Nilesh Nikam are trying their best to occupy the post. Kakade rubbished the revelations made by the insider.

He said the selection process was delayed due the fire incident at Mantralaya in Mumbai which kept Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar because the final decision would be his. “It not just Pune, but the selection process has been delayed in quite a few cities as well. The decision will be taken soon,” Kakade said.